A system for passive deployment of a vortex generator is disclosed, including a housing mounted at a fixed location relative to an airfoil structure and a piston contained in the housing. A vortex generator is moveably mounted adjacent an exterior surface of the airfoil structure, and is moveable between a stowed position inside the airfoil structure and a deployed position outside the airfoil structure. The piston is configured to drive the vortex generator between the stowed position and the deployed position in response to a pressure differential between a first airstream over a first surface of the airfoil structure and a second airstream over a second surface of the airfoil structure.